• This marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the country nation.
• The ATI law mandates public institutions to provide access to information held by government, thereby fostering a culture of transparency.
• This will give Zambians a right to have access to information in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.

Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication (ZIPRC) has applauded government for operationalizing the Access to Information (ATI) law.

Institute Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Nimon Muleya said in a statement that this decision marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the country nation.

Mr. Muleya noted that the ATI law mandates public institutions to provide access to information held by government, thereby fostering a culture of transparency.

He added that the institute stands ready to support the implementation of the ATI law and to collaborate with all stakeholders in promoting its benefits.

“Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication (ZIPRC) welcomes the signing of Statutory Instrument No. 35 of 2024 by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. With greater transparency and free flow of information, public institutions will be motivated to improve their service delivery.”

“The ATI law also underpins democratic values by promoting openness and participation. Citizens can engage more effectively with their leaders and institutions, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights protected,” Mr. Muleya noted.

He encouraged all Zambians to utilize the opportunities provided by the law to enhance the nation’s development.

Meanwhile, Operation Young Vote (OYV) Executive Director , Guess Nyirenda said the organization is elated that government has broken the record of being the first administration to deliver the ATI Law in Zambia, less than three years of being in power.

Mr. Nyirenda noted that this will give Zambians a right to have access to information in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.

He said government has also beaten the record in the region by delivering the operationalization order in 6 months 3 days whereas the neighbouring countries such as Malawi and Zimbabwe took more than 5 years just to operationalize.

“It is becoming undoubtedly abundantly clear that the UPND regime is geared to fulfill its campaign deal made to the people of Zambia regarding giving the Access to Information law even when some sections of society are peddling an agenda that it was among the conditions forced on the UPND regime for the debt restructuring and IMF Loan.”

“Whereas we appreciate that it may have been among the conditions, we have seen steady movement from the ascent of the Act by the President on December 23, 2023 to now when the Commencement Order has been issued to operationalize the law.